Dictionary

forenight en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English fore-niht, from Old English foranniht, equivalent to fore- + night. Cognate with Dutch voornacht, German Vornacht.

Meanings

1. (Scotland) The evening time, between twilight and bedtime.
   • Yes, it is a low fire with an immense iron crane over it, on which half a dozen pots at a time can swing in comfort; a hearth on which logs of wood and peat can burn, a hearth that a dozen happy and contented faces can scarce encircle on a winter's forenight. 1895, William Gordon Stables, “Book I”, in On to the Rescue: A tale of the Indian Mutiny:
   • the rancher, who has sheep to lose, sits shivering in his log house through the long forenights with a Marlin rifle handy, while the famished timber wolves prowl about his clearing. 1909, Harold Edward Bindloss, “Chapter 1”, in The Greater Power:
   • “Then I minded the tales my father used to tell me in the winter forenight of Wicked Wat Fergus of Craignesslin, how he used to rise from his bed and blow his horn and ride off to the Whig-hunting 1900, S. R. Crockett, The House on the Muir:

Forms

Synonyms

eve · eventide · undern